New Covid-19 cases in south-east London went down by about three per cent this week compared to last week, according to NHS data.
Southwark, Lambeth, Lewisham, Greenwich, Bexley and Bromley recorded 4,281 positive tests between them from October 25-31, official figures show. That was down from 4,414 cases the week before.
The drop would have been higher if it were not for a significant increase in Lambeth, which recorded another 733 positive tests, 20 per cent higher than its 628 over the previous seven days. In Southwark the number of new cases dropped by nearly five per cent to 557.
Lewisham’s 608 new cases represented a drop-off of eight per cent, while Greenwich was down by more than fourteen per cent and Bexley saw a reduction in new cases of nearly thirteen per cent. Bromley was down by nearly five per cent.
Deaths remained relatively low across the week in south-east London, although they increased slightly from a low base the previous week. Two more people died after testing positive for Covid-19 in Southwark, up from one the week before. Lambeth and Lewisham both recorded the same number of fatalities – one and two respectively – while Greenwich and Bexley both saw deaths rise from one to three. In Bromley there were no new deaths, compared to one the week before.
Southwark’s total deaths after a positive Covid-19 test now stand at 372, a rate of just over 116 per 100,000 residents. Lambeth has had 537 people die – nearly 167 per 100,000. Lewisham’s death rate from the virus is nearly 182 per 100,000 residents, while Greenwich is nearly 160. Outer boroughs Bexley and Bromley have the highest rates, with 235 and nearly 196 deaths per 100,000 residents respectively.
It comes as the NHS launched walk-in services for booster Covid-19 vaccinations across the country. The health service said that nearly every person registered with a doctor lives within ten miles of a fixed vaccination site. People who can get a booster include those aged 50 and over, people who live and work in care homes, health and social care workers, anyone over the age of 16 whose health makes them vulnerable, and anyone who lives with a vulnerable person.
Dr Nikki Kanani, deputy lead for the UK’s Covid-19 vaccination programme, said: “The booster is not just nice to have, it is really important protection ahead of what we know will be a challenging winter.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday (October 31): “I think rather than thinking [about] new restrictions, the best thing everybody can do is get that booster jab as soon as you’re offered it.”
“I think people don’t quite realise that the first two jabs do start to wane…
“How sad, how tragic it would be if people who had other complications, other compromises in their health, got seriously ill because they were overconfident about their level of immunity and didn’t get their booster when they needed it.”
Click here and enter your postcode to find your nearest walk-in centre, or search online for NHS walk-in vaccinations.
A list of walk-in vaccination centres in or near Southwark is below. Check opening times before going. You may be offered a different vaccine to the version you had for your first two jabs.
Borough/Waterloo
St Thomas’ Hospital (Pfizer)
Vaccination site 2 at Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7EH
Guy’s Hospital (Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna)
Counting House at Guy’ Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London, SE1 9RT
St George’s Pharmacy Southwark (Pfizer)
46 St George’s Road, London, SE1 6ET
Dulwich/Sydenham
Queens Pharmacy Vaccination Centre (Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna)
107A Rosendale Road, SE21 8EZ
Oaks Park Medical Centre (Pfizer)
17 Oakfield Road, London, SE20 8QA
Touchwood Pharmacy Sydenham (Pfizer)
208 Sydenham Rd, Lewisham, SE26 5SE
Deptford/New Cross/Lewisham
Lockyers Pharmacy (Pfizer)
252 Evelyn St, London, SE8 5BZ
Waldron Health Centre (Pfizer, AstraZeneca)
Amersham Vale, London, SE14 6LD
New Cross Pharmacy (Pfizer, AstraZeneca)
Amersham Vale Stanley Street, London, SE14 6LD
Lewis Grove Pharmacy (Pfizer, AstraZeneca)
1 Lewis Grove, London, SE13 6BG
Clapham
Fairlee Pharmacy (Pfizer)
26 Queenstown Road, London, SW8 3RX